I would like to know:
a) Number of young people aged 11 to 16 that were not in education because of mental health or anxiety during:
- September 2018 to July 2019
- September 2019 to July 2020
- September 2020 to July 2021.
Absence codes are recorded in line with national guidance and the absence code for illness does not specify the type of illness.
The only way to identify absences caused by mental ill health or anxiety would be to examine each episode of illness across the whole of Devon County Council individually.
From our preliminary assessment, we therefore estimate that compliance with this request would exceed the appropriate costs limit under section 12 of the Freedom of information Act 2000 / Regulation 12 (4) of the Environmental Information Regulations. This is currently £450 or 18 hours of officer time.
b) Average length of persistent absences for those young people during the same periods.
The Devon County Council system, in line with national guidance, does not specify the type of illness. The only way to identify absences caused by mental ill health or anxiety would be to examine each episode of illness across the whole of Devon County Council individually.
From our preliminary assessment, we therefore estimate that compliance with this request would exceed the appropriate costs limit under section 12 of the Freedom of information Act 2000 / Regulation 12 (4) of the Environmental Information Regulations. This is currently £450 or 18 hours of officer time.